Joseph e



No Model) J. E. CAMPBELL.

NUT LOOK. No. 583,248. PatentedvMay 25,1897.

l a I o- -e ET] W? J,

b w l t I I 7 M I UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. CAMPBELL, OF FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMESB. KIDIVELL AND E. R. SIVETNAM, OF SAME PLACE.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,248, dated May 25,1897.

Application filed November 16 1896. $erial No. 612,255. (No model.)

To all whOm. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fairfax, in the county of Fairfax and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to nut-locks, and is especially designed for useupon the nuts of railway fish-plates.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple,durable, andefficient nut-lock formed, preferably, in one piece and adapted tosimultaneously engage each and all of the nuts of a rail-joint and tosustain itself in place by reason of its resiliency. The nut-lock alsohas provision whereby it may be readily connected to and disengaged fromthe nuts as required.

The invention consists in an improved nutlock embodying certain othernovel features and details of construction, as hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the application of the improvednut-lock to a railway-joint. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspectiveview of the nut per 86.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in bothfigures in the drawings.

The nut-lock contemplated in this invention is preferably constructed inone piece from a wire blank. This piece of wire may be of any suitablegage and should be resilient. It is provided about centrally with one,two, or more coils 2, which are arranged at its entire length againstthe adjacent fishplate. (Indicated at 3.)

The terminal portions of the blank are extended obliquely from oppositesides of the coils 2 to form the inclined portions 4, and each terminalis bent at the point 5 and extended longitudinally, so as to passbeneath the nut of the bolt passing through the end aperture in therail. This horizontal portion (indicated at 6) is extended sufficientlyto pass under the next or second nut from the end of the rail and isthen bent into an open rectangular form, as indicated at 8, so as tosnugly embrace and extend around said nut. The opposite terminal isextended in a plane parallel to the first-n amed terminal, passing overboth of the nuts of the adjoining rail and provided similarly to thefirst-named terminal with a rectangular loop which embraces or extendsaround the second nut from the end of that rail. Finally the extremitiesof the terminals of the wire are wrapped or coiled around the horizontalportions, as indicated at 9.

After the several nuts have been tightened the rectangular portion atone end of the nutlock is slipped over one of the end nuts and thehorizontal portion 6 caused to bear against one of the fiat surfaces ofthe next nut. The inclined portion of the lock, with thecentrallylocated coils, are then interposed between the inner nuts andthe remaining horizontal portion 6 caused to pass under or over the nutat the contiguous rail. Finally the remaining rectangular portion 8 atthe end of the nutlock is forced over the remaining nut, the centralcoils enabling the lock to be extended longitudinally sufficiently topermit such operation. In order to facilitate the slipping of the finalrectangular portion over the last nut, said portion is provided with abail-shaped offset 10, adapted to receive the point of a spike or otherpointed instrument, which may be used as a pry against the farther edgeof the nut, so as to obtain the required purchase for stretching thenut-lock so that it may be engaged with the last nut. This offset alsoenables the nut-lock to be detached in the same manner by using apointed instrument as a pry and the edge of the nut as a fulcrum in amanner that will be readily understood. By reference to Fig. 1 it willbe noticed that the tendency of the nut-lock to contract in length afterit has been applied to the nuts serves to turn the nuts tighter, andthis operation is the same upon each and every nut. This adds materiallyto the value of the nutlock and prevents any possibility of the endsworking loose. By reason of the nuts being held perfectly tight at alltimes the liability of the threads on the bolts becoming stripped orworn by the constant loosening and tightening of the nuts is entirelyovercome, and the threads of both the nuts and bolts are preserved inperfect condition. The normal length of the nut-lock is indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 1, and after the nut-lock has been moved into itsoperative position so as to embrace the last nut it will be apparentthat the tendency of the central coils to contract will cause both ofthe rectangular end portions of the nut-lock to bind firmly andfrictionally against the terminal nuts, thereby obviating any liabilityof the nut-lock becoming displaced.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A nut-lock for rail-joints, comprising a longitudinally-extensiblestrip having an inclined portion intermediate its ends extendingobliquely between the inside nuts, terminal portions extending inparallel planes and arranged to bear upon the nuts of one rail on oneside and upon the nuts of the other rail on the opposite side, andrectangular loops at the ends of the parallel terminal portions adaptedto fit over and embrace the outside nuts, substantially as and for thepurpose de scribed.

2. A nut-lock consisting of a longitudinallyextensible strip having itsend portions bent to embrace the outer nuts and formed at intermediatepoints to bear against the inner nuts, the central portion of the stripbeing provided with one or more coils arranged at one side of the normalplane of the strip, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A nut-lock consisting of a longitudinallyextensible strip havingrectangular end portions for embracing the spaced nuts, one of said endportions being oli'set to receive the point of a pry, substantially asand for the purpose described.

at. A nut-lock consisting of a longitudinallyextensible strip havingrectangular end portions for embracing the spaced nuts and having alength normally less than the distance between said nuts, one of saidend portions being provided with a bail-shaped offset, substantially asand for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH E. CAMPBELL. lVit-nesses:

JAMES B. KIDWELL, E. R. I-IoLBRooK.

